The Best Streaming Television Alternatives

Remember the heyday of movie and television streaming services? Less than six years ago, Hulu courted networks with the promise of a one-stop shop for scarfing down TV, Netflix tried to spin-off it's small streaming catalogue into the ill-fated "Qwikster" site, and Blockbuster sat on the sidelines praying both enterprises would implode. Now we're in the thick of it, powerhouses and budding upstarts competing for movie-lovers' attentions, each with their own exclusive offerings.

Which one's for you? With Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon dominating the conversation, here are 7 options that may not be on your radar.

SundanceNow

An off-shoot of the Sundance Channel, SundanceNow plucks highlights from the Sundance Film Festival along with the latest from famed directors to collate a premiere selection of contemporary independent cinema. It's a destination for theatrical/VOD day-and-date releases, keeping those without a local indie theater in the loop (and for cheaper than a theater ticket or an iTunes rental). For non-fiction fans, SundanceNow also offers the subscription based "Doc Club," a monthly package of four documentaries curated around a theme. And though the SundanceNow blog recently shut its doors, the archives remain a treasure trove of companion material. SundanceNow is more of an education than a mere entertainment platform.

Unique Selections: David Holzman's Diary, Metallica: Through the Never, Blue Is the Warmest Color, How to Die in Oregon